Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

The words hung in the air. While Yuji didn't say much, both Maki and Nobara couldn't suppress their shocked exclamations.

They fully understood the implications of being trapped in a domain.

"What? You don't trust me?"

Hearing the shift in their tone, Sukuna's voice emerged with a mocking edge.

"…"

Maki and Nobara exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn't a matter of trust, there was no reason to doubt Sukuna's observation. His experience and sharp intuition as the King of Curses were undeniable.

"No," Maki said finally, breaking the silence.

Of the group, she was the most composed. Her experience dealing with high-level cursed spirits gave her an edge in keeping her cool. However, her brow furrowed as she voiced her thoughts.

"But if this really is a domain, shouldn't it have a guaranteed hit effect?"

Though she wasn't capable of domain expansion herself, Maki understood the basics. A true domain carried a guarantee that its attacks would land. If that were the case, they should have been overwhelmed the moment they stepped inside.

Instead, they'd been aimlessly wandering the forest for three days. Was the cursed spirit toying with them? Or was there another explanation?

"Ha!"

Sukuna's sharp laughter rang out, cutting through Maki's reasoning like a blade. It was filled with derision, as if he were mocking their limited understanding.

"Tsk."

The sound grated on Nobara, who clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"What's so funny, you smug bastard?" she muttered under her breath, her fists clenching.

Even Maki, who typically kept her emotions in check, tightened her grip on her weapon, her face darkened by frustration.

"It's simple," Sukuna said, finally ceasing his laughter. "This isn't a complete domain."

His explanation silenced the group.

"A complete domain?" Maki repeated, narrowing her eyes.

"Precisely," Sukuna said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "What you're dealing with is incomplete. It's just the prototype of a domain. The cursed spirit likely hasn't yet fully mastered the technique."

An incomplete domain. That would explain the lack of a guaranteed hit effect and why they were being trapped rather than attacked outright.

"Which means the cursed spirit's abilities are still in the early stages," Sukuna concluded. "It's probably a special-grade spirit that's only recently been born."

His words carried the weight of a final judgment.

"A newly born special-grade?" Yuji echoed, his curiosity piqued. "Do you know what kind of cursed spirit it is?"

"If this were the past, I might've known," Sukuna admitted. "But now? I haven't the faintest idea."

For all his arrogance, Sukuna wasn't the type to feign knowledge. If he didn't know something, he said so without hesitation.

"Tsk. What good are you, then?" Yuji grumbled, clearly disappointed.

Sukuna snorted at the boy's audacity. "Watch your mouth, brat."

"Yeah, yeah," Yuji said dismissively, rolling his eyes. "You're supposed to be this big, scary Curse King, but you can't even identify a special-grade spirit. Some king you are."

"You insolent—" Sukuna's growl cut off as he restrained himself.

In his prime, Sukuna wouldn't have tolerated such disrespect. A thousand years ago, he would've slain anyone foolish enough to talk back to him without a second thought. But now, limited to only a fraction of his power, Sukuna found himself grudgingly holding back.

"Fine. Laugh while you can," Sukuna muttered darkly. "If I were at my full strength, no cursed spirit, no matter how powerful would dare stand before me."

Though his words were soaked in arrogance, they weren't entirely baseless. Sukuna's strength during his prime had been so overwhelming that few, if any, could rival him.

However, the world had changed in the thousand years since his reign. The sheer number and variety of cursed spirits had grown exponentially, fueled by modern humanity's collective fears and anxieties.

This shift had created new threats that even Sukuna found unfamiliar. Still, his confidence remained unshaken. If he ever regained his full power, no opponent—old or new—would pose a challenge.

"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing. Happy now?" Yuji said sarcastically, waving off Sukuna's boasting.

"You little—" Sukuna bit back his anger, deciding against continuing the argument.

There was no need to waste time bickering. Sukuna was nothing if not patient. He could wait for the day when his strength returned in full, and then Yuji would see just how terrifying he truly was.

For now, though, Sukuna's focus was elsewhere. This era fascinated him. The chaos, the sheer abundance of curses, the merging of urban legends with reality, it was a spectacle unlike anything he'd ever seen.

"Haha… I'll bide my time," Sukuna chuckled, his laughter tinged with anticipation.

Yuji frowned, confused by Sukuna's sudden amusement. "What are you laughing at now?"

"Nothing you'd understand," Sukuna replied dismissively. "Now, let me rest."

With that, his voice faded, leaving Yuji, Maki, and Nobara to face their predicament once more.@@novelbin@@

For a moment, none of them spoke.

"So… we're trapped in a domain," Nobara said finally, her tone flat. "Great. That's just great."

"Even knowing that doesn't change much," Maki admitted. "We're still stuck, and there's no clear way out."

Yuji sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Guess we just have to wait it out, huh? The school will send someone to find us eventually."

His words carried a note of forced optimism, but neither Maki nor Nobara could deny the logic.

"Let's eat first," Yuji suggested, glancin

g at their supplies—or lack thereof.

Three days had passed, and they were completely out of food. While their sorcerer physiques allowed them to endure hunger for a while, they couldn't go without eating forever.

"Guess we'll have to forage," Maki said, rising to her feet and scanning the forest. "We don't have much choice."

With that, the trio prepared to search for whatever resources they could find.